James Nero shot 69 on Saturday to lead after one round of the month-delayed Rensselaer County Men’s Amateur at Frear Park Golf Course in Troy. Click here for the RCMA’s website.

Nero, who turns 50 later this month, leads Jimmy Sullivan by three. Sullivan is a Siena and Averill Park HS graduate who turned 24 this summer. A group sitting at 73 (4 back) includes past champion Dave Mooradian (2011 & 2003), Devin McLoughlin and Cody Bielawa. Mooradian and McLoughlin play out of the CC of Troy while Bielawa belongs to Burden Lake CC.

Two-time defending champion Steve Quillinan, Jr. is not in the field. Over the summer, he moved for a job in the Boston area and his schedule would not allow for his return this weekend.

In the senior division, David Arakelian of CC of Troy is seeking his fourth straight win. He shot even-par 71 and leads John Lang and Eric McLoughlin by four.

2015: John Goyer, left, shakes Steve Quillinan Jr.’s hand after Quillinan wins the 50th Rensselaer County Men’s Amateur at Frear Park. Also in the final foursome, E.J. Cardish and John Nero.

The RCMA was delayed because of the disrepair that Frear Park, the city’s municipal course, had fallen into. There was no dedicated greens superintendent and the wrong mix of fertilizer and conditioning caused loss of greens and complaints throughout the summer. Click here for our story on new superintendent Greg Tudor.

The tournament is traditionally played the weekend after Labor Day but was moved to Columbus Day weekend. The conditions, the move and the time on the calendar all cut down the full field which usually numbers around 200 players.

Dave Arakelian, who won the RCMA Open Division in 2004, won his third straight Senior Title in 2016.